Stylish Event Raises Funds to Keep Opera in Good Voice

“An aria on every pair of lips, and a Scaasi on every pair of hips,” was the motto of chairman Phyllis Parrish at the second annual “Opera Opulence,” given last week at the Hotel Inter-Continental Pavilion Ballroom to raise funds for the San Diego Opera.

Sponsored by the opera’s various countywide guilds (as its women’s auxiliaries are known), the event attracted a stylish crowd of 750 for an unusually elegant luncheon followed by a presentation of the fall collection of Coty Award-winning New York couturier Arnold Scaasi. The local Saks Fifth Avenue stores presented the show.

The day was lavish, but profitable; proceeds exceeded $42,000, a remarkable amount for a fashion luncheon and enough to buy several Scaasis or, in this case, to underwrite a portion of the opera budget.

A champagne reception preceded the luncheon, a minor gastronomic triumph that resulted from a collaboration between chef Alfred Boll of the Inter-Continental, chef Giles Jouanin of the Grand Hotel Inter-Continental in Paris and menu chairman Leonor Craig. The meal began with an elegant peach soup served in the hollows of melon halves, followed by poulet bordelaise and an elaborately garnished chocolate mousse.

During the reception, opera director Ian Campbell remarked on the number of women present who are not normally opera supporters. “They’re here primarily to look at the clothes, but that’s all right,” he said. “We’ve seen to it that they’ll get worked over by opera volunteers while they’re here.”

Later, Campbell reminded the crowd of the purpose behind its presence. “You’re going to buy today, oh yes, you’re going to buy , and you’re going to wear these beautiful outfits to the opera opening night on Oct. 10.” Indeed, a hard sell was far from necessary--many of the guests already had set the date aside for the opera’s second annual opening night gala and slumber party at the Westgate.

Campbell was not the only man in the crowd. The event chairman’s husband, John Parrish, took a head count and reported (with a look of relief) that there were nine. “I think it’s amazing, a whole new trend,” he said. “Men at fashion shows!”

But like the other men present, John missed out on one of the requisites of fashion show attendance--he didn’t wear a hat. Many of the women did, from simple cloches to broad-brimmed straws that hid the identities of some of the best-known women in town. Dorene Whitney trimmed her black straw with fresh flowers; she said that she had done the same for opening day at the Del Mar race track, only to be paid for her efforts by an infestation of ladybugs. Sic transit gloria.

In addition to the show and a raffle for a long list of prizes, the activities included a Bob Arnhym-conducted auction that brought in a quick $5,000 for the opera’s coffers. Only two items were placed on the block, a tour of the Orient given by Inter-Continental Hotels, and a black onyx and turquoise necklace designed and donated by Jeanne Larson.

Those in attendance included many opera stalwarts, such as Jean Morse, Barbara Kjos, Ingrid Hibben and Athena May, but there also was one guest who was quite new to the scene. Seating chairman Pat Keating said that the evening before the event, her telephone had rung continuously with last minute calls about the luncheon. Answering it for the hundredth time, she found herself speaking to a telephone solicitor selling home remodeling; Keating sold the woman a ticket, and included her at her own table.

Other guests were Alice Cramer, Louarn Fleet, Jeanne Lawrence, Wanda Kaufman, Phil Huber, Suzanne Whittemore, Reba Brophy, Virginia Monday, Alma Spicer, Dian Peet, Georgette MacGregor, Florence Johnston, Jane Pendleton, Ann Plachta, Mary Ellen Cain, Traudl Stangl, Pat Scantlen, Margaret Hilbish, Shirley Rubel, Fran Hale, Lilo Miller and Marge Agnew.

DEL MAR--Meanwhile, “a chicken in every pot” was the cheery motto at the second annual auction for the benefit of the American Institute of Wine and Food by its San Diego Regional Center.

Held at the rural home of George and Piret Munger, the day had a cowpoke theme backed by the barbecued ribs and chicken cooked on an immense grill set some distance from the house--no need to smoke up the place, after all. But since the group of 200 demanded variety in its menu, the day also was an old-fashioned potluck, at least in concept. The guest-brought grub was decidedly newfangled, right down to the large jar of fresh escargot caviar (that’s snail eggs in English). Much of the food arrived from the kitchens of the county’s leading chefs, ranging from Mille Fleur’s Martin Woesle to the Cal-a-vie spa’s Michel Stroot.

The thermometer hovered pretty much in the comfort zone throughout the afternoon, but George Munger decided that it was warm enough to activate his newest toy, a “sculpture” he designed that periodically bathed guests in a fine spray emitted by a series of sprinkler heads strung along a wooden fence.

Shared Duties

Munger shared auctioneer duties with restaurateurs Dick Thomasson and Bertrand Hug, selling off a slew of interesting gourmet packages to an eager audience seated quite casually on bales of hay. The items largely were choice, especially a wine country weekend offered by Fallbrook vintners John and Martha Culbertson. Proceeds were expected to top last year’s figure of $19,000.

Among those present were Bill and Liz Zongker, Aage and Veryl Frederiksen, Bob and Bea Epsten, Frank and Linda Brennan, Lou and Donna Long Knierim, Alfred and Pat JaCoby, Jerrie Strom, Maurice and Charmaine Kaplan, Jacques Cornelis and Denise Bouche, Mark and Carol Yorston, Sue Raffee, Susan Thomas and Solon and Peggy Palmer.

SAN DIEGO--Most of 200 guests invited to Lee and P.J. Maturo’s splashy summer soiree the other evening already knew the way to the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club, but the dozen or so brilliantly colored hot air balloons that floated high above the clubhouse served as glamorously gaudy signposts for those who didn’t.

This was one recent party that didn’t have a motto; it merely celebrated the onset of the August social season (the town’s busiest), and also casually marked the host’s birthday two days earlier, an event that Lee Maturo said her husband otherwise preferred to pass unnoticed.

The Maturos brought some choice wines from their own collection to lubricate the foods offered by the extravagant buffets of shellfish, pates, pastas and roast meats. Horseflesh wasn’t on the menu, of course, but it figured greatly in the conversation--many in the crowd are Del Mar regulars, including horse owners Kay and Bill Rippee. (Bill’s lapel was adorned with his lucky horseshoe--a pin, that is, not a Seabiscuit-sized article.)

The Maturos’ daughters were present. Mary was escorted by local FBI spokesman Gary Laturno, and Linda Maturo Lynch by husband Patrick Lynch, an attorney.

Other guests were Anne and Abe Ratner, Esther Burnham with Jack Lasher, Bishop Leo T. Maher, Jay and Anthony Ghio, Helen Ann Bunn, Dotti and Patrick Haggerty, Marge and Author Hughes, Rita and Joe Neeper, Mim and Al Sally, Betty and Walt Sable, and Jane and John Murphy.